The first frost of winter may have already hit your area, covering your home’s facade in icy spots and letting drafty chills inside. Lowering heat costs during this time of year always takes a bit of strategy because of the number of influences responsible for managing internal temperatures. How do you achieve warmth without throwing money out the window in utility costs?
1. Relocate Your Thermostat
You may have an inaccurate perception of your home’s temperature because of the thermostat’s placement. If the device is near an area where humidity and temperature change frequently, like outside a steamy bathroom or in a poorly insulated basement, the readings may be off.
The house could seem hotter or colder than it is, making your manual adjustments to the thermostat incorrect. You could unintentionally put too much unnecessary pressure on heating systems or think the thermostat is faulty because it says it’s warmer than it feels. Eliminate confusion by placing it in a temperate, consistent part of the house. Try an open space where air flows easily, like a living room. Choose an interior wall so the outside does not impact it.
2. Do Some Decorating
How can you lower heating costs by engaging with your inner interior designer? Strategically placed furniture and covered surfaces hold heat better than an empty room. Textiles are some of the most influential elements of a room’s heat-holding ability. Everything from throw pillows to curtains and area rugs does wonders for keeping a house cozy.
Test this theory by removing all major furniture from the space. Notice how cold the room gets without it. Moving furniture may also be a prime opportunity to ensure you have not blocked any vents.
3. Get an HVAC Inspection and Energy Assessment
Several aspects of an HVAC may be hemorrhaging money unintentionally. Your system should be able to manage these four tasks no matter what it’s like outside:
- Temperature
- Humidity
- Air cleanliness
- Air movement
While the type of system you have may not matter much, the size of the system does. If low-capacity equipment is trying to heat considerable square feet, you’ll have problems when it comes time for bills. If you can, install an efficient, appropriately sized unit for the home’s layout and footprint.
Additionally, the inspection may reveal maintenance issues causing it to use more resources to run than it should, such as a hot water heater at the wrong temperature. Even replacing a filter improves an HVAC’s abilities or getting a duct cleaning. A more comprehensive energy audit may reveal additional opportunities for optimizing electricity and holding heat.
4. Seal the Home
Insulation is the most comprehensive way to simplify condition regulation. The most high-value insulated places are basements, attics and crawl spaces. As air rises and moves, these locations release warmth more than other areas.
However, you must pay attention to tons of other nooks and crannies. For example, the gap between your front door and the entryway is an ideal spot for cold air to enter. A draft stopper and other weatherstripping will make the front face less susceptible to the cold.
5. Invest in Renewable Energy
There are many tax incentives and credits for making homes more energy-efficient, including installing clean power systems. Renewable energy systems may cost more upfront, but the long-term savings are notable.
Lower heating costs by avoiding the spiking prices of fossil fuels. Additionally, you can install clean energy backup resources, like batteries, to prevent costly generator setups and fuels.
Some renewables also reduce heating costs by acting as a source of income. If you share additional energy with the grid, you could get money back through demand response programs. This further alleviates winter burdens.
Lower Heating Costs for Every Winter
There are ways to achieve comfort without feeling like you have to turn off heaters completely. Lowering heating costs requires a combination of understanding how HVAC systems heat homes and implementing home-regulation strategies. These evergreen tips will save you countless headaches and dollars yearly until you never fear the monthly statement from your provider ever again.
